Dad-of-two Christian Withers told his ex ‘you’re dead’ before making a slit throat gesture after she made a statement to be used against him in a court case.

The 38-year-old was due to appear before North Staffordshire magistrates for a charge of harassment against his former partner.

But six days before the court date, Withers spotted her on a bus and sat behind her.

He then told her ‘You are dead. I am going to get sent down because of you’ and put his finger across his neck.

The defendant then started following his ex when she got off at another stop and repeated his threat.

Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court heard the victim called the police officer involved in the case and he heard a male voice screaming at her.

Now Withers has been sentenced to eight months in prison, suspended for 12 months, with 120 hours unpaid work.

Christian Withers leaving Stoke-on-Trent Crown Court after he received a suspended sentence for intimidation

Prosecutor Brian Williams said the defendant was charged with harassment and his ex made a statement which was to be used against him in criminal proceedings at North Staffordshire Justice Centre on October 10. She boarded a bus on October 4 and saw him sat at the back.

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Mr Williams said: “She sat down near the front and he moved and sat behind her. He swore and said, ‘You are dead. I am going to get sent down because of you’. A woman with a child told him to be quiet. He told her to shut up and the language continued.

“The defendant got off the bus. His ex-partner looked through the window and saw him put his finger across his throat. She was frightened as to what might happen.

“She stayed on the bus and got off at her stop. She became aware he was walking behind her. He was not deliberately following her but was en route to his destination.

“He caught up and said, ‘You are dead, you have ruined my life. I hate you. I could get sent away next week’.

“She phoned the officer in the case and he could hear a male voice shouting and screaming at her. The incident came to an end and the defendant was arrested the following day.”

Mr Smith added: “In his words, his head had fallen off. He knew there was a great prospect of going to prison. He was worried about the impact on his children.

“He can now see, with the benefit of hindsight, that the relationship was toxic and harmful to both of them. He is now in a stable relationship. He is confident he can make a success of his life and not come before the courts again.”

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Judge David Fletcher told Withers: “You were on a bus using bad language. No-one wants to hear that in a public place. It was disturbing. It was inappropriate behaviour at a time when a court case was coming up.